The Ministry of Culture has been tasked with organizing a competition to select the most suitable project. This event will be part of a broader program dedicated to the millennium of the great thinker.
Photo from the press service of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. Map of Mahmud Kashgari-Barskani
According to the project's initiator, State Secretary Arslan Koichiev, the map should become an important historical and cultural object that reflects the heritage of its time and the image of the past.
“This map should inspire and evoke pride among Kyrgyzstanis, so its execution must correspond to a high status,” emphasizes Koichiev.
Who is Mahmud Kashgari and what is special about his map?
Mahmud ibn Muhammad al-Baraskani al-Kashgari was an outstanding scholar and philologist of the 11th century, who lived during the period of the Karakhanid Khaganate. Research shows that he was born in the town of Barskoon, located on the southern shore of Issyk-Kul. His main work, “Divani lugat at-turk,” is not just a dictionary but the first attempt to systematize the culture, life, and languages of Turkic tribes.
The writer and Secretary General of TURKSOY, Sultan Raev, noted that the figure of Mahmud Kashgari generates significant interest in the scientific community. His dictionary became the foundation for linguistics, while the map, which marks Barskoon as the center of the world, is considered one of the oldest in the history of cartography.
“He viewed his native Barskoon as the cradle and support of the universe. His 11th-century map covers the area from Japan in the east to Hungary in the west, which is a source of pride for us,” adds Sultan Raev.
“Center of the World” — a philosophical aspect
It is essential to consider that medieval cartography did not strive for accuracy in the modern sense. The 11th-century map was not a navigational tool but rather a manifesto.
At that time, cartographers placed in the center those locations they considered sacred or significant for their civilization. By designating Issyk-Kul as the center, Kashgari emphasized: “Our region is not the periphery, but the heart of a developed world.” This serves as a reminder that the “point of reference” depends on the observer's perspective. For Kashgari, the Turkic world was a self-sufficient and great Universe with its own axis of coordinates.
Researcher Elery Bitikchi (Nazikbek Kydyrmychev) told the publication 24.kg that Kashgari expressed concern that Turkic languages were becoming less significant compared to Arabic and Persian. Therefore, he created his important work, and the map reflects this idea.
“Earlier, Muslim cartographers often placed the Kaaba at the center of the world. Kashgari, however, chose his own state. His map details the Turkic peoples and China, while there is less information about Europe. This is not about superiority: Arabic and European maps better describe their regions, while Mahmud's map is ours,” explains the researcher.
A reason for global pride
Sultan Raev, Secretary General of TURKSOY, raised the issue of the unjust oblivion of the legacy of the great scholar. He pointed out that the problem lies not in the lack of facts but in our attitude towards world heritage.“This is a reason for pride on the international stage. Why do we not pay due attention to this and emphasize it? Is there a monument or panorama in Barskoon marking that the thinker was born here? No. And is there an exhibition in the National Historical Museum dedicated to his work? This question is rhetorical,” says Sultan Raev.
The installation of Mahmud Kashgari's map in the center of the capital is not just a decorative element or a tribute to an anniversary.
According to historians, this map represents a unique view of the world captured a thousand years ago. It reminds Kyrgyzstanis that their land was not a “blank spot” on the map of civilization but its geographical and intellectual center.
According to Kiyas Moldokasymov, placing the map in a prominent location is a fully justified initiative.
“This will serve as a vivid testament that we honor our great compatriot and take pride in our heritage. Mahmud Kashgari clearly marked Issyk-Kul as the center of the Earth. His work is of invaluable significance: he not only proclaimed our region the center of the world of his time but also detailed the locations of cities that existed then on the territory of Kyrgyzstan,” notes the historian.
Elery Bitikchi emphasizes the importance of the educational role of this project. He notes that it will help people understand that science in our region developed long before the emergence of European institutions.
“This is a reminder that we are descendants not only of the Yenisei Kyrgyz but also of the great civilization of the Karakhanids and other peoples who inhabited this land,” concludes the researcher.
